Leiria, Portugal, Feb. 27, 2026 (Lusa) - The local authority of Leiria, in central Portugal, has received only €5 million in cash since storm Kristin hit the district nearly a month ago, according to its mayor, who spoke to the Lusa news agency.
"The only financial support we have received was €5 million, which was an advance from the insurance company we work with. Other than that, I haven't received any more money," said Gonçalo Lopes.
On the 18th, the Leiria council estimated that the damage caused by the Kristin depression to date amounted to €792.8 million, not including the costs to municipal and state infrastructure and forests.
"Based on what we have been able to ascertain, what we have already spent, plus the initial low estimate, we have a figure of €792.8 million. There is still another amount to be added," said Gonçalo Lopes on that day.
In an interview with the Lusa news agency, one month after the Kristin depression caused extensive damage in the district, Gonçalo Lopes anticipated an increase in the amount, listing the impact on housing, the economy, vehicles, forests and other areas.
In the case of housing, he said that the losses could exceed €100 million and, in the case of businesses, the figure "could reach approximately €700 million".
Several situations have yet to be accounted for, such as the number of vehicles affected or the damage to the forest area, which, in this case, "represents an immediate economic loss, yes, and then a very serious loss from an environmental point of view," he stressed.
"This is the scenario that quickly increases this figure to €800 million," he pointed out.
Reiterating that the district's gross domestic product "is around €2 billion per year, a single day of inactivity represents around €5.6 million that is not produced," the mayor recalled that, for a week, Leiria had "practically 100% of its economic activity at a standstill."
"Therefore, it was a country and a region that became poorer," he pointed out, listing other non-municipal assets that were affected, from religious spaces to associations.
At this stage, "the figures are impossible to calculate accurately, they are estimates," he acknowledged, explaining that a survey of the affected municipal heritage is underway, "both in response to insurance claims" and "to submit the information" to the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of the Centre.
Eighteen people died in Portugal, six of them in the district of Leiria, following the passage of storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displaced people.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cutting off of power, water and communications, floods and extreme rainfall are the main material consequences of the storms.
The Central, Lisbon and Tagus Valley and Alentejo regions were the most affected.
The state of emergency covering the 68 most affected districts ended on 15 February.
SR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
